Forever with the Lord. Those are the words that give us great hope. Paul said, “And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). Steve Green calls heaven his passion and prize, the goal on which he firmly fixes his eyes. Oh friend, today, as I write this final post for our study, A Heart To See Forever, I want to share the wonder and beauty of the place of eternity — heaven.

In Week 9 of A Heart To See Forever, “The Place of Eternity,” we studied the magnificent promises of heaven. We learned that heaven is a new place, a new relationship, a new experience, and a new responsibility. Jesus promised that He was going to prepare a place for us and that where He is, we will be also (John 14:1-3). Everything will be new. And for those of us who may be resistant to change, this newness will be one change you will love. As Paul shared, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). The newness of forever is a great hope — every tear is wiped from our eyes, there is no longer any death, and no more mourning or crying or pain. Oh the wonder of a place where everything is beautiful, blissful, and blessed forever!

Friend, I don’t know what you are facing today, but I pray that the Lord will give you a heart that can see beyond the here and now all the way to forever. Forever means there is no longer any curse. No evil. All is light. A then there is the Lord — you are always with Him — loving Him, serving Him, and delighting in Him (Revelation 22:3-4). You will see His face and you will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:4-5).

And now, the final promise from the Lord as He closes the book of Revelation: “Yes, I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20). This final “yes” from the Lord is one that fuels those hearts that see forever. They know the time is short until they will see their Lord. And so they say, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Friend, every day, look in to the Word of God and rest in His promises. Then, look up, fixing your eyes on Jesus, and walk with a heart that sees forever until He comes.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of heaven breaks
The summer morn I’ve sighed for, the fair sweet morn awakes;
Dark had been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand
And glory — glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

The King there in His beauty, without a veil, is seen;
It were a well-spent journey, though seven deaths lay between.
The Lamb, with His fair army, doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory — glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh Christ He is the fountain, the deep sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted, more deep I’ll drink above;
There, to an ocean fullness, His mercy doth expand,
And glory — glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom’s face,
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace;
Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s Land.

— Anne R. Cousin, 1824-1906

Share Your Comments

When you finish Week 9, think about all you have learned this week in Revelation 21-22. How does what you’ve studied help you stand strong in your current challenges in life? How is God using this study to help you have a heart to see forever? Share all that God is teaching you here in the Comments section of this blog post. What was your favorite verse, quote, thought or insight?

Join us @ Quiet Time Radio™

Then, I invite you to join me online Friday, February 24, on Quiet Time Radio™ at 8 am PST (11 am EST) where you can listen, chat, and call-in via telephone or Skype, as we discuss The Place of Eternity in A Heart To See Forever, our book of quiet times on Revelation and the eternal perspective. What an amazing opportunity we have to share together from all parts of the world about what God is teaching us! Join in on the fun!

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, February 17, 2012
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Hope Of Eternity Part 2.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, February 10, 2012
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Hope Of Eternity Part 1.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, February 3, 2012
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Prelude to Eternity Part 2.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, January 27, 2012
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Prelude to Eternity Part 1.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, January 20, 2012
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Battle For Eternity Part 2.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, January 13, 2012
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Battle For Eternity Part 1.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, January 6, 2012
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Challenge of Eternity.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, December 9, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Challenge of Eternity.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, December 2, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Message Of Eternity—Part 2.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, November 18, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Message Of Eternity—Part 1.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, November 11, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Person Of Eternity—Part 2.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, November 4, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Person Of Eternity—Part 1.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, October, 28, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Promise Of Eternity—Part 2.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, October, 21, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — The Promise Of Eternity—Part 1.

Listen Online Now — Quiet Time Radio™ On Demand Episode Friday, October, 14, 2011
— A Heart To See Forever Study — Introduction Week.

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Hope of Eternity Part 2

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Hope of Eternity Part 1

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Prelude To Eternity Part 2

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Prelude To Eternity Part 1

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Battle For Eternity Part 2

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Battle For Eternity Part 1

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Reign and Rule of Eternity

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Challenge of Eternity

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Message Of Eternity — Part 2

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Message Of Eternity — Part 1

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Person Of Eternity — Part 2

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Person Of Eternity — Part 1

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Promise Of Eternity — Part 2

READ Caths Blog Post A Heart To See Forever Study — The Promise Of Eternity — Part 1

God bless you as you continue on in the great adventure of knowing Him!

Days. Our lives are lived out in days. No day is the same. One friend has a calendar where she writes one word to describe each day of her life as she journeys through the hours and minutes — joy, victory, challenge, trust, loss, big, busy, peace. And you know how it is. Sometimes clouds move into the landscape of our days. We see them coming. And the clouds make trusting God a challenge because clouds sometimes obscure truth, the reality of the Lord in our situation.

And when it gets really dark, we can be tempted to let go of hope and sink in despair. Paul said, “Therefore we do not lose heart.” And he goes on to explain why: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). There is purpose in our days. John Oxenham says, “The thread we see, but the pattern is known to the Master-weaver alone.”

In the dark days, how can you find the light from the Lord? When Moses blessed the people of Israel he gave them a promise from God in Deuteronomy 33:25, “Your strength will equal your days.” God promises to meet you in your dark days and provide everything you need. Run to His promises in His Word and find one you can live in that is equal to your circumstance. Here are some that I love:

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you (1 Peter 5:10).

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

There is a day when the clouds recede and sunlight breaks through the darkness. And you realize that the sun was shining behind the clouds even in the darkness. So it is with the powerful presence of the Lord. He promises, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Because of His presence in your life, you can say with the psalmist, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

So how are your days these days? Are there some clouds or is the sky clear and bright? Open God’s Word today and grab some of those precious promises. You will discover that “as your days so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25). And you will find great joy in knowing, by faith, that the Lord is accomplishing an unbelievable work in your days (Acts 13:41). May you experience His power and grace in increasing measure as you live out your days.

Blessings and Grace to you,

Beginning February 27, 2012, Women’s LIFE Fellowship of Anderson, South Carolina, launches their new morning Bible study, Catherine Martin’s Trusting In The Names Of God — A Quiet Time Experience, eight weeks of guided devotions exploring the names of God using the devotional disciplines of The P.R.A.Y.E.R.™ Quiet Time Plan™. The study concentrates on Who God is, What God does, and What God says as you learn about the names of God in an experiential format. As a wonderful compliment, this new AM study comes right on the heels of completing Catherine’s A Heart That Dances – Quiet Times For The Heart an eight week series devoted to intimacy with Christ! Women’s LIFE Fellowship, a vibrant nonprofit ministry, is the biblically-grounded brainchild of its talented Executive Director, Deanna Bartlett. She is passionate about seeing all women find freedom in Christ and reach their true potential for which they were made. Amen! The Trusting In The Names Of God series is produced by Quiet Time Ministries and includes a full multimedia companion collection including DVDs, Downloadable M4V Video, Downloadable MP3 Audio, and Audio CDs. Groups like Women’s LIFE Fellowship can watch weekly video messages by Catherine on a big screen. How great is that!

Catherine Martin and Quiet Time Ministries thank you! May God richly bless everyone in this study!

   Women’s LIFE Fellowship @ Anderson, South Carolina

Watch the Trusting In The Names Of God – Series Preview Video

Trusting In The Names Of God AQTE – Leaders Kits @ The Leaders Store